CSI Landscaping Line-Do not Cross
Well, if you weren’t – you are now.
And that’s the reaction I get every time I see the plain white utility truck driving by my neighborhood with the plain black and white logo on the side – in the same police typewriter font as the famous TV show – “C.S.I Landscaping”
Incongruity
Now, any good copywriter will tell you, that “incongruity” is a great copywriting technique to grab a reader’s attention. For example: “Man Bites Dog”, “Wireless Cable” or “CSI freaking Landscaping” …WTF!!??
We won't charge you an arm and a leg
Their ad from the yellow pages gives no indication of any specialized crime scene inspired services. They do irrigation, not InTERRogation. Bobcat services? Well maybe that after the bobcat has just ripped someone to shreds?
Disruption Marketing run Amok
Now I suppose, one could argue that yes, I remembered their name, and yes, I’m writing a blog post about CSI Landscaping and not Green Thumb Gardeners…but if the name is meant to disrupt us, to grab our attention through incongruity, then shouldn’t they be playing this angle up to get even more mileage out of the disruption?
I mean, create a landing page showing the team out in field, excavating a trench, or even striking a tough guy pose among the trees – Something! Anything to tie in the CSI theme!
But no, we’re left with the tease. The tease that if we’re brave enough to dial the number maybe this is the type of backyard service we’re going to get:
video clip credit: fjaskolka
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I am inclined to believe that they didn’t do this on purpose – that they have no idea that people think of the CSI television franchise when they see their ads/logo. And if someone has mentioned it to them, they most likely went, “yeah, cool,” and left it at that.
However, the little line, “We wont charge you an arm and a leg” might indicate that they DO know about the connection, but their tie-in is too subtle. It’s a matter of whether they are ignorant or too smart. In either case, I hope they read your post and get some ideas.
Chuck Lasker´s last blog ..Interesting Social Media Observations and Psychology
Hey Chuck! Thanks for the visit!
I laughed when I read your comment about “we won’t charge you an arm and a leg” – that’s my caption!
I think you could be right that the company is oblivious to the connection but the CSI font they use seems to be too close to the TV show’s font to be a coincidence.
If they had a website, or Facebook page or even an Email, I could contact them to find out…
But for now, instead of getting some useful baclinks, they get only mockery
.
Thanks for your comment. I also liked what you touched on on your blog about outside experts! I have to admit -it’s the first time I saw anything about the Time Travel Survival Guide!
Nice to hear from you!
- Don
hmmmm .. I wonder if {insert police typewriter font here} C.S.I. {/insert} is copywrited? Maybe it’s the owners’ initials? Maybe they aren’t on the Net intentionally, to stay under the radar?
Stay tuned and watch the night-shift team use the latest in forensic science gadgetry to answer these questions.
Randy´s last blog ..10 Years Already
Hey Randy!
I don’t think any (legal) business should be under the radar – and that incongruity is what prompted me to write the post in the first place. Odd, eh?
I also read your post 10 years already and WOW! I rememnber the lead up to Y2K…I was working as a IT contractor for all of the banks in Toronto, as well as the Toronto Stock Exchange and I thought for sure they would not be Y2K compliant come Jan. 1, 2000.
And yes, I did have a Y2K bunker – I suppose I was just a WEE bit more paranoid back in my younger days…The upside was that I didn’t have to buy groceries again untill Jan. 2001!!
Cheers!
- Don
CSI is awesome!
That would be cool if you hired the CSI landscaping company for a job and Agent Grissom emerged out of the truck!